Ok, I am sure some of you saw a post I posted yesterday and this morning about my aussi not getting along with our new mal. But I have been reading about how to help situations with a new dog coming into your home. Well every where I look up they say if you have done all the training professionally I need to see a anxiety vet. Because of these reasons..... Riley my aussi is aggressive, at dog parks he finds the biggest and badest dog and fights him, we can not take him on walks in the neighborhood because he will pull you to another person or animal and try to attack, people that come into our home we have to lock him up for 15-20 min then allow him out because he gets too excited and will bit you. He is not good with kids but has been raised around them. Solomon my husband has taken him to 4 different trainers in the past couple of years and nothing has worked. When we got micole he had attacked her a few times but now loves er to death. Now with the mal in the family things in the house are heated up. Of course he wants to attack her. I am starting to think he needs medication..... he has all these anxiety issues and no trainer has been able to help him. Should I or should I not get him some medical help? Is that a good idea? Has anyone ever dealt with issues before?

Anxiety medication for dogs are not a quick fix. It may help some in the short term, but it will not solve the underlying problems that are causing the anxiety in the first place. If Riley is that aggressive, in your home, around your home, on walks, at dog parks, there is a big problem. If he bites someone or someones dog there could be serious repercussions. I'm curious as to why you think this is an anxiety issue? Have you been told this by a vet or trainer.

Dogs are given anti-anxiety medication all the time, this is true. Some give it for separation anxiety, or anxiety in the car etc. It seems like you have been the trainer route, without much success. Has your vet recommended these trainers? Are they known for working with troubled dogs.

Also, I was curious, was Riley like this before you got Micole? Has it gotten worse since you got your Mal ( sorry you didn't mention her name)?

I think I would take Riley into the vet for a checkup if one hasn't been done in a while, make sure there are no underlying health issues that could be causing this aggression. If not have a serious discussion with your vet about medications that may or may not help while you continue training.

I wish you good luck as I know this can't be easy to deal with. Please let us know how it all goes.

So my family and I rehab aggressive dogs of all breeds, particularly rescue dogs.

I have never once heard of giving a dog anti-anxiety meds to help.

Your dog isn't anxious, he's aggressive. That may have started out of fear, but it isn't something that can be treated with Xanax or Prozac. The only thing those meds would do is knock your dog out. It may stop him from biting immediately (since he'll be unconscious) but it won't treat the issue.

I know you said you consulted with trainers, but what kind? Typical obedience trainers won't be able to help you, you need a dog behaviorist who specializes in aggression.

I would take your Mal to the vet to rule out any physical issues, then see if the vet has any recommendations for behaviorists or rehab experts.

Please be warned, you have a long journey ahead of you. Rehabbing an aggressive dog is a long, time-consuming, exhausting process. Huge kudos to you for undertaking it.

I had a chihuahua before I got Selena and she was the same way you are describing. Anyone/dog that walked into the yard/house she would try to bite them, it was awful. Come to find out my poor girl had an enlarged heart and heart disease and most likely that is what made her act the way she did. She was so miserable and ending up passing a few months later. Not trying to scare you, but I would definitely have your dog checked to rule out any medical issues like June said. Good luck

OK, Riley has been with us since he was 9 weeks old. He is 7 years old now and he has always had these issues. he is an aussi. He has been to several different vets and all of them tell us it is part of his anxiety for him to act out the way he is behaving. No, there are no heath issues as of 2 months ago. That was the last time we had test ran on him for any issues. Yes the trainers we have taken him too where the best I could find or the amount of money we have. Yes they where specialist for aggressive behavor and they where recommended threw close friends and the vets.

I have only been in the picture for a little over a year. I have noticed his behavor and I am trying my best to fix his issues. No vet has told me to put him on meds it just seemed everywhere I have turned on the internet it keeps talking about it. So I was unsure of if they really did work before pets. Before I ever put any animal I have threw something like this I want other peoples ideas first.

Sorry, my mal name is Sophia. She has been a very sweet girl. Needs training by all means lol she is the one i just got. She will be 3 in november.

Riley has bit Micole is the face where I have had to rush her to the er for care. $450 later she is good. He is like this with any dog we have. Now with Sophia in the house I am having to do this all over again and this suuucks....

Before we had micole thing where fine. Because we had no other dogs. We didn't go out for walks and he is fine with it. He doesn't tear up the house when left alone. When people come over we just put him away. Now with 3 dogs in the house it is a little more difficult . A lot more to handle.

It took Riley several weeks to get over the fact that micole was going to be in the house. She wasn't going anywhere. Now sophia is here and she isn't going anywhere either....

Have you tried rescue remedy? I've heard it can be really helpful. I've never tired it though.

I have never seen something like this before..... I'll give it a shot that's for sure. Reviews on it are really good too.

Let me know if it works for you. Good luck.

What type of trainers have you been to for Riley? And what methods or programs have been tried? Medication should be an extreme last resort and from the sound of it- it isn't necessary. He's heated in the beginning but then grows to accept the new dog or person? A true "agressive" dog who needed medication wouldn't be able to physically or mentally overcome a new dog or person entering the home.

Okay I didnt want to start a new thread for this so I will at least stick with this thread. So we went to the holistic vet the other day and we were talking about what to do for siku's anxiety. He is fine at home and can relax but whenever we do anything outside ofhis normal routine he paces and breaths hevily. I got him the thunder vest to see if that woukd help but that gives him more anxiety. This is even in places that he has been a bunch of times like my parents or my boyfriends parents house . He just isnt comfertable really any where but our house. Obviously I hate this and feel do bad that he feels this way. So the vet said he should take two pills of resources anxiety and stress medication everyday do he is able to calm down and see that these situations are nothing to worry about. I bought the pills but have yet to give it to him becaise I dont knoe how I feel about it. I couldnt find much online other than that it works. Does anyone have any opinions about his or other options to help?

Erica, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use it. That's an all natural supplement. It even has passion flower, which I use for myself! I have bad anxiety and passion flower works for me

Okay thats good to hear. I know they say it doesnt affect his personality but for some reason it scares me that he wont be the same. But he shouldnt have to suffer in unfamilar places either and its not like its forever so I dont know why im so worried.. haha. But we are off to my parents house today and then for a hike so I guess today is better than ever to start. Just the twice a day every day weirds me out!

Don't worry so much about holistic remediesl the majority are very safe,

Even though I am on traditional medication, if I need to take the anxious edge off I take a Valerian. A friend of mine is also using that in conjunction with conventional meds to treat CCD in her Border Collie. It works when I fly also.